TADM2E 2.45

The expected number of times the assignment to tmp is made is the sum of the probabilities that the $ n^{th} $ element is the minimum. If we assume the minimum is distributed uniformly in our sequence then the probability any given element is the minimum is $ 1/n $.

Expected time is E(n) = E(n-1) + 1/n, E[1] = 0

To compute expected value we sum this quantity for $ n $:

$ \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{i} $

and recognize this as the definition of the $ n^{th} $ Harmonic number

$ H(n) = \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{i} \sim \ln n $

so our expected value approaches $ \ln n $ as $ n $ grows large.

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